Governor Jerry Brown speaks about his nomination of Goodwin Liu, a UC Berkeley law professor, to the California Supreme Court during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Liu was previously nominated by President Obama to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, but the appointment was blocked by Senate Republicans.

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

Governor Jerry Brown speaks about his nomination of Goodwin Liu, a...

Image 2 of 2

Governor Jerry Brown speaks about his nomination of Goodwin Liu, a UC Berkeley law professor, to the California Supreme Court during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Liu was previously nominated by President Obama to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, but the appointment was blocked by Senate Republicans.

Michael Rossi, a retired Bank of America executive from Pebble Beach, will be "the point of contact between California's business and workforce leaders and the administration," Brown's office announced Wednesday.

Operating out of the governor's office, Rossi will be asked to "streamline the state's economic development infrastructure" and advise Brown on regulatory, legislative and executive actions needed to improve the job market, according to the announcement.

OK, but wait. Wasn't that what Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's "growth and competitiveness agenda," introduced three weeks ago, was supposed to do?

"Blindsided," said a staffer in Newsom's office after I forwarded the press release. "Didn't even know this announcement was being made today."

The staffer could have pointed to Newsom's 28-page document, replete with scores of "action steps," including the creation of a public-private California Jobs and Competitiveness Council. Its tasks, among other things, are to "streamline existing delivery mechanisms (i.e. state economic agencies) into a single accountable office," and "provide expertise and recommendations at the highest level of state government" ( www.ltg.ca.gov).

A bill establishing the council, carried by Assembly Speaker John Pérez, D-Los Angeles, was supposed to be on the governor's desk in the next 45 days.

On Tuesday, when rumors started floating about Rossi being named, Newsom, who was attending a Lake Tahoe conference with Brown, was asked by Chronicle reporter Wyatt Buchanan what he knew. "I'm finding out as everyone is finding out," Newsom replied.

I asked Brown's press office how the appointment of Rossi would be reconciled with Newsom's proposals.

"We appreciate the Lt. Governor's support on this critical issue and expect he'll continue to work closely with our office and Mr. Rossi on strategies to get California working again," spokesman Evan Westrupe-mailed back.

Newsom was not immediately available for further comment. When he presented his plan to 250 Bay Area CEOs in Silicon Valley last month, Newsom told me Brown had seen drafts of his plan and "is well aware of what we're doing."

"I think he'll embrace the spirit of the recommendations, and am confident he'll be supportive as we move forward."

In the 1990s, Rossi, a UC Berkeley grad, held a number of executive positions at Bank of America, including senior vice president and chief risk officer, before retiring from the private sector for eight years.

Other details: He's a Democrat, and "will serve with no compensation."

Another first step: Rossi might want to drive up from Pebble Beach to San Jose this afternoon.

There he'll find a state Senate committee on economic development listening to Silicon Valley executives on how "California can cut red tape obstacles for job producers through easing the state permitting process."

Local businesses and the general public are also invited to testify: 2-4 p.m., County Administrative Building, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose.

The hearing "is a logical first step to then find a comprehensive solution in the months ahead," according to Sen. Michael Rubio(D-East Bakersfield), chairman of the committee.